View full sizeMichael Randolph | The Bay City TimesDaniel Hill enters the latest shingle to come off the line into his log book, as Eric Mendyk inspects it for defects. Dow Powerhouse Solar shingles are now commercially available, and in full production in Midland.

MIDLAND — Jim Rogers never expected to be making high-tech solar shingles after working 23 years in the auto industry.

The 52-year-old Burt man was laid off as a result of down-sizing a few years ago, but didn’t want to leave the manufacturing sector. So, he enrolled in Delta College’s Fast Start training program last year and is now working in Dow Chemical Co.’s pilot Powerhouse Solar Shingle plant in Midland.

“I’d never have thought that I’d be doing what I’m doing today,” said Rogers. “I went from working on 1940 technology to state-of-the-art technology.”

Local media was given a sneak peak Monday inside Dow’s manufacturing facility that is currently producing about 400 solar shingles daily. The solar shingles hit the U.S. market this month, starting in Colorado and reaching 12 target states in the next 18 months.

The shingles that are designed to not only protect your home, but also generate power, were sliding off the production line Monday.

In one section of the plant that was granted media access, solar panels went through a giant injection molding machine that attaches them to a shingle.

Once molded together, the shingle is then tested under a special light that measures how much power the shingle can generate.

“The amount of power generated by each shingle can vary,” said Jennifer Hare, a production engineer at Dow. “After being measured, the shingles are then labeled on the back and packed and organized according to power.”

Dow officials said the solar shingle market opened in Colorado because of the state’s ability to offer incentives for consumers, its high cost of grid supply and because of the state’s solar-susceptible environment.

Jane Palmiere, vice president of Dow Solar, said Michigan is a tentative state for release in the next year and a half.

“Of course because we’re making the shingles here in Michigan, we want to look at the possibility of selling them here, but we need to look at all those factors first,” said Palmiere.

Price is another key factor when it comes to purchasing any new technology.

Palmiere said a new solar shingle system would cost between $10,000 and $15,000 in states that offer government solar incentives, which includes the shingles and an energy converter box. Savings could be realized in five to 12 years, she said.

“And really after that, you could be realizing straight profit,” said Palmiere.

People like Rogers, who completed Delta College’s Fast Start Solar Program are graduating into careers at Dow Solar, said Shari Kennett, Dow Solar’s business manufacturing leader. She said some students who recently graduated from the six-week program are working in the plant right now, and more career opportunities would be announced after the new year to get ready for a move into a new solar shingle plant currently under construction in Midland.

Assembly jobs are full-time union jobs paying about $30,000 a year with full benefits, said Kennett.

“It’s not necessary, but it is recommended to go through Delta’s program,” said Kennett.

She added as production ramps up, more job opportunities will be available in other sectors of the business. Dow estimates to create 1,275 solar shingle jobs by 2015.

Media also received a look inside the new solar plant being built on Poseyville Road on Monday. George Bacchus, the construction manager on site, said the building is about 20 percent complete.

“Right now, we’re trying to finish up the shell of the building and get it all sealed up before the winter,” said Bacchus.

About 90 construction workers were on site Monday. Bacchus anticipates to peak at about 120 workers. He said about 90 percent of the work is done by local tradesman.